Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Extracts from Star-Anise (Illicium verum)

This study was carried out to investigate the biological activities of star anise extracts obtained from four different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol and chloroform) by measuring total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, nitrite scavenging activity and antimicrobial activity. The methanol extract showed the highest extraction yield, followed by ethanol, water and chloroform. The properties of the extracting solvents significantly affected the total polyphenol content. Methanol extracts contained more total polyphenols than any other extracts. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was found in methanol extract. The hydroxyl radical and nitrite scavenging activity were highest in methanol and ethanol extracts. In antimicrobial activity, water extract showed stronger activities than methanol and ethanol extract against Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis, and no inhibitory effects on Gram negative bacteria were found in all extracts at the concentration used.